Although Israel has not accepted responsibility for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday, it does mark a decade-long struggle against Israeli covert operations that has left Iran increasingly exposed.

Since at least 2010, Israel has allegedly conducted dozens of attacks inside Iran, targeting sensitive nuclear and military installations. The frequency of these attacks escalated dramatically after July 2020, when a massive explosion rocked the Natanz uranium enrichment site in central Iran.

Just months later, Iran suffered a major blow with the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Western and Israeli intelligence had long suspected Fakhrizadeh of being the architect of Iran’s covert nuclear weapons program. His elimination, reportedly carried out using a high-tech, remote-operated machine gun, sent shockwaves through the Iranian government.

The sophistication of this attack raised alarming questions about Israel’s infiltration within Iran. It suggested the existence of a strong network capable of using advanced weapons, possessing detailed information about key targets movements, and executing complex operations without detection, according to Iran International.

Despite Iran’s efforts to project strength, the attacks continued unabated. In April 2021, another explosion at Natanz targeted the power supply for centrifuges, causing extensive damage that reportedly required months of repairs. Reports at the time suggested that thousands of uranium enriching machines were destroyed in the strike.

Perhaps most damaging to Iran’s image was a stark admission by former Intelligence Minister Ali Younesi in 2021. He warned that over the past “10, 15, or 20 years,” Mossad’s infiltration into various sectors of Iran had become so extensive that “all officials of the Islamic Republic should be worried for their lives.”

As tensions escalate following Haniyeh’s death, Iran’s new threats against Israel are viewed by many analysts as an attempt to save face. However, it should not be taken lightly after the regime launched 400 missiles in its first ever direct attack on Israel in April.